Sex Education: Curriculum and Controversy in the 1960’s and 1970’s

Mollie Goldblum 

Research Statement:

     The very basic motivation behind my research was finding how and for what reasons sex education in the United States changed between the 1960s and 1970s. Sex Education is a topic that has been marked by controversy and opposition in most situations in which it has arisen through American history and which often caught in the crossfire of a variety of social and political agendas. I was hoping to find more on how the changing ideas of “conservatism” and “liberalism” effected sex education. I believe this is important for the sake of understanding how American sex education has developed into what it is today, as well as a lens through which to examine how attitudes towards issues including but not limited to religion, family, class, race and nationalism changed during this time period. While there were changes to Sex Education curriculums (or lack there of) across the country in many places between the 60s and 70s, those changes varied depending on the locations and this is just one of many variables to be considered. I chose to keep my research broad in terms of place, although as I continue I may focus more on one or a few cases as examples of larger trends.  

     During the time at the library my interest began to developed and focus on programs and curriculums as well as the responses to these different programs from parents, religious and political groups as well as teachers and school. What I found most interesting was the connection between sexuality education and other social factors. For example I found a strong tie between fear of Communist influence in the US and opposition to sexuality education. Going into this research I had not considered that there would be a connection between opposition to sex education and communism or many of the other social and political factors which I came to see as deeply connected to the reaction to sex education in the US in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

     As I continue with my research I am hoping to work particularly with how social and political forces such as a fear of communism, affected local and national sex education programs. Currently I am working with the rest of the Earlham research team to make our research findings accessible to the public through an online interactive annotated bibliography. This will allow us to create subject ‘tags’ that will connect our research through the themes that arose. In terms of my research individually, I am still going through my findings as well as sources which I found references at the Library of Congress which are accessible online or through other libraries. I intend  to use this research for my Senior Capstone, although as of yet I do not know if this will be for my History or Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies major. The research has been deeply connected to both my majors, I am waiting to see which Capstone will better fit continued work with this research, but in either case I will be able to share what I have found and what continues to grow from it with more people through my Senior Capstone experience. 

Annotated Bibliographies: 

Hartman, Clifford. State of Alaska Department of Health Guidelines to Human Sexuality Education. Juneau: Commission of Education, 1967.

This is the 1967 State of Alaska Guidelines for Sex Education in public school, covering both content guidelines as well as suggestions for materials and resources. 

Emerson, Rita Marie, and Rutland School. The Wonder of Growing Up; a Detailed and Concrete Exposition of Sex-education Program for Grades One through Eight. Dayton, Ohio: G.A. Pflaum, 1969.

This is a Catholic School guide for teaching sex education. It covers content and materials as well as objectives for each grade level with emphasis of particular social and moral growth goals attached. 

Pearson, Marline. Can Kids Get Smart About Marriage? A Veteran Teacher Reviews So? A A Veteran Teacher Reviews Some Leading Marriage and Relationship Education Program. Piscataway, NJ: National Marriage Project, 2000.

A review of eight different family life curricula. This curricula range in time and place or origin as well as approach, although all have in common that they promote marriage and family as the center both of society and a fulfilling life. 

Berger, Milton M., and Michael Carrera. 1979. Human sexuality through the life span childhood and adolescence. New York: Health and Education. 

Three films found in the Library of Congress, aimed towards educators and health professionals, on the topic of human sexuality. These films give insight into  the field of human sexuality and sexuality education during the late 1970s and early 1980s.